Did Soviet People Watch Foreign Movies?

Access to foreign films during the time of the Iron Curtain was tightly regulated, but this didn't prevent the citizens of countries within the Soviet Bloc from discovering the magic of cinema beyond their own borders. Let's delve into the experiences of individuals from different regions, such as Czechoslovakia and Hungary, in watching Western films.

Czechoslovakia: A Window to Hollywood and Beyond

Among the people I spoke with, a former resident of Czechoslovakia shared their experience of watching foreign films before the release of Star Wars. They mentioned some censored films that made it through the censorship process, such as:

High Noon Judgement at Nuremberg Marty Some Like It Hot Rio Bravo Big Country The Apartment The Magnificent Seven

From England, they remembered films like:

Room at the Top Blow Up

From Italy and France, some popular films included:

8-1/2 La Dolce Vita Two Women Divorce Italian Style Breathless The Wages of Fear

Remarkably, even with the scrutiny of the authoritarian government, these films managed to reach the public. One standout film that made it to Czechoslovakia was:

Inherit the Wind

The local censor allowed this film to pass because, ironically, they believed it highlighted the lack of scientific knowledge in the United States.

Hungary: Liberalism with Restrictions

While Hungary was one of the more liberal countries within the Soviet Bloc, it still had its restrictions. However, the country did offer its citizens a chance to watch Western films. For example, when Star Wars finally made its way to Budapest in 1980, it was a memorable experience.

A 16-year-old author shares his story:

“Star Wars made it to Budapest only about two years late. I remember buying tickets from a scalper but it was still worth it. As a matter of fact, as I recall, right after the movie ended, my buddy and I immediately bought another pair of tickets and went back to watch it again. It was… amazing.”

Especially popular in Hungary were films like:

Alien. All That Jazz Kramer vs. Kramer.

Meanwhile, science fiction films were well-received and shown at another cinema, the "Film Museum." Here, they saw:

2001: A Space Odyssey Planet of the Apes.

However, not all films made it through the censorship barrier. Despite its popular appeal, the time-travel science fiction movie Final Countdown was at risk of being banned in Hungary due to concerns about glorifying American military forces. This all-occurred in 1984, when a culture tsar from the politburo, Gyrgy Aczél, allegedly intervened to pull the film from theaters.

The author had a firsthand view of this event. Working on Commodore-64 games, they had access to information through their connections. They were even able to watch a borrowed copy of the banned film complete with Hungarian dubbing in VHS format.

Smuggling and Home Videos: The Role of Technology

As video recorders like VCRs became more common in Hungary, smuggled films were widely distributed. This was how the author first watched Mad Max with German dubbing and The Road Warrior in French. These experiences show the transformative role that technology played in bypassing censorship.

To this day, the author reflects on how they could get lost between reality and the satirical version of reality.

Finally, they emphasize the importance of watching films with their original language, especially Mad Max, and to watch the original Australian version rather than the Americanized dub.